Choosing my studies
February 3, 2026 2026-02-03 12:11Choosing my studies
As you prepare for one of the most important decisions of your life, the choice of undergraduate program, see the reasons why studying Philosophy at the University of Crete is the right choice.
Why choose to study philosophy?
Broadness and significance of cognitive background.
No science can offer the extent and depth of understanding that Philosophy allows for the important issues of human existence: for the formation of personal identity, for the nature of knowledge, consciousness, and emotions, for moral principles and values, for social reality and political institutions, for the principles of law, for human rights, gender, the environment, technology, or the nature of art. Philosophy extends to these and many other fields, thus providing a vast cognitive background that is related to almost all sciences. Moreover, philosophy is the oldest science and the mother of sciences, that is, the one that gave birth to most sciences and continues to nourish them as well as to control their foundations.
Acquisition of transferable skills.
Philosophy is the quintessential science that cultivates the “transferable skills” that are now in demand across many professional fields: creative and critical thinking, analytical ability, problem-solving skills, argumentation skills, critical text processing skills, dialogical ability, as well as organizational skills and presentation skills.
High demand for Philosophy graduates in the business and technology world internationally.
Countless publications from the international press document the impressive rise in the absorption of Philosophy graduates in the labor market, at the same time that a number of companies are creating positions for philosophical consultants, following the example of giants like Google and companies in Silicon Valley. This ‘triumphant return’ of Philosophy (APEC) is due to the rise of artificial intelligence: as many of the tasks that are technical or computational are now performed by machines, what businesses need is executives who, on one hand, have the ability to develop digital content, and on the other, can guide on the relationship between humans and machines, regarding the ethical issues raised by the use of artificial intelligence as well as modern biomedical innovations, or regarding the challenges posed by an ever-changing world. The National Authority for Higher Education, reflecting an estimation from the World Economic Forum, cites analytical thinking, critical thinking, complex problem solving, strategic learning design, creativity and originality, the ability to argue and persuade, emotional intelligence – that is, the transferable skills cultivated by philosophy – combined with digital skills and the use of technology as top skills for the absorption of graduates by 2025.
A flexible degree.
The academic breadth of studying Philosophy, combined with the wide range of transferable skills it develops, gives Philosophy graduates a strong advantage: a Philosophy degree is today one of the most flexible and dynamic qualifications. Specifically for postgraduate study, a Philosophy degree provides access to graduate programs across the humanities and social sciences, as well as to postgraduate programs in fields like cultural and arts management, and to public administration and business administration (MBA) programs — in which, it is worth noting, philosophy graduates are in high demand internationally.
Broad professional prospects.
Philosophy graduates can work in secondary education, both public and private, as Philology teachers (PE02). They can also be employed as staff in public sector bodies (ministries, regions, and local governments), in state and private cultural organizations or institutions, in media and news outlets as content creators and analysts, in publishing houses, in research institutes, and more broadly in the management of culture and the arts. In addition, philosophy graduates can work as consultants and trainers for public and private organizations whose work involves applied ethics: for example, they can serve as bioethics and medical ethics advisors and trainers in hospitals and research centers, as corporate ethics consultants, or on matters of ethics, politics, and law related to the use of new technologies. Finally, Philosophy graduates can practice as Mental Health Counselors, provided they receive training in the method of Philosophical Counseling.
New strong professional opportunities for Philosophy graduates in Greece
Based on the employment outcomes of our graduates, ongoing monitoring of the labor market, and feedback our Department receives from partner external professional organizations, there is strong demand in Greece for Philosophy graduates in the following fields:
- Business consulting, for example in areas such as bioethics or digital ethics.
- Human Resources Management.
- Digital Marketing.
Why choose to study philosophy at the University of Crete?
A modern department with a long history
Our Department is among the first to have cultivated Philosophy at the university level in Greece and therefore has extensive experience in delivering a comprehensive Philosophy curriculum in line with international standards and the discipline’s cutting-edge fields. At the same time, it is a modern department that closely follows international trends in higher education as well as developments in the labor market, offering students the knowledge and skills required for today’s professional careers, in collaboration with external organizations from a wide range of professional sectors.
Distinction of the Curriculum in the HQA (Hellenic Authority for Higher Education) evaluation
The Undergraduate Program of the Department of Philosophy is the only one among comparable programs at Greek universities to have received an “Excellent” rating in all evaluation and accreditation criteria by the Hellenic Authority for Higher Education (HQA). This significant achievement recognizes the high quality of both the program’s design and implementation, as well as the outstanding level of the teaching and research staff who support the undergraduate program.
Responding to the needs of society.
By closely monitoring society’s needs, we have designed a curriculum that emphasizes practical philosophy (ethics, political and social philosophy, philosophy of law, aesthetics, and philosophy of art), with particular focus on the philosophical examination of contemporary social issues such as artificial intelligence, the environment, gender, and questions of bioethics.
Training in “Philosophy for Children” (P4C) and the Digital Humanities.
Our program is the only one that provides training in the innovative and internationally recognized pedagogical method “Philosophy for Children” (P4C), which is also applied in the field of Philosophical Counseling. At the same time, it is the only philosophy curriculum that offers training in the Digital Humanities through participation in the TALOS Program, and it also enables students to obtain the Certificate of Pedagogical and Teaching Competence (PPDE) as part of their undergraduate studies.
Responding to the needs of students.
The curriculum was designed with care not only for our discipline but also for the needs of our students. Thus, the total number of courses in the program (42) is the lowest among philosophy degree programs; moreover, we have the highest number of courses in which assessment is based on coursework rather than a written examination (8–13). Most importantly, we have designed a program that is easy to understand from the very first reading of the study guide, so that first-year students can grasp its requirements and know how to plan their studies even without the assistance of an academic advisor—who, of course, is always available to provide guidance on any issue our students may face, whether academic or personal.
Participation in the organization of the International Philosophical Film Festival “CINEphil_101.”
Starting in the 2024–25 academic year, the Department of Philosophy of the University of Crete is organizing the International Philosophical Film Festival “CINEphil_101” in Heraklion, Crete (May 2025). This is a thematic festival unique in Greece, representing an innovative outreach initiative by a university department in collaboration with numerous institutions in Crete and across the country. Students of the Department will participate each year in the implementation of the festival, gaining valuable experience in organizing cultural events of this scale.
Studies in a vibrant city of exceptional beauty.
The beauty of Rethymno’s old town, the unmatched natural splendor of the region, and the constant vitality of the city’s large student community together create an ideal environment for student life—one that our graduates never forget.
Implementation of a major student housing project.
The University of Crete is implementing a large-scale student housing construction project with a total budget of €250 million. The project includes 1,810 residential units in Rethymno, with a capacity of 2,710 beds, in a specially designed area that will feature a supermarket, shops, a restaurant, a playroom, and outdoor sports facilities, including 5-a-side soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, among others. Upon its completion in 2027, this project will meet the needs for affordable housing for all students in Rethymno.
